Gay Adoption: For The Greater Good

In America there are more than 500,000 children in foster homes waiting to be placed in loving homes, with more than 20,000 adopted annually. Explicitly legalizing gay parent adoption in all fifty states would substantially reduce this number, at the same time providing loving homes for those in desperate need. Opponents of placing children in same-sex households hold to the idea that the “abnormality” of gays would be pressed onto children, therefore causing them to be gay.

Having two moms or two dads has been proven not to affect the development of children. Studies have shown that children placed in the home of a gay couple are in no way affected through childhood. According to a study published in the Children and Youth Services Review, the attachment level of children placed in the home of a gay couple is related to life satisfaction as well as the relationship attained with the adoptive parents, and the number of placements prior to adoption. The level of child attachment to the parent is also a key indicator of the child’s life satisfaction. “This variable was found to have a significant relationship with parent level of relationship satisfaction with their adoptive child.”(Erich) Therefore, the argument that the child’s well-being will be in harm is unfounded.

The term “nuclear family” developed in the western world to distinguish the family group consisting of parents, for the most part commonly a father and mother, and their children, from what is known as an extended family unit. The nuclear family is vanishing, and fast. The idea that placing children in same-sex coupled households would destroy the idea of this unit or the idea of the mother and father and their respective roles in society is a backwards assessment. In today’s society, roles are ever changing. Women now attend college at a higher rate than men, take on the same positions as men, as well as attaining an income extremely close if not exceeding that of men in some cases. Would these same opponents of gay adoption, be in favor of rescinding these advances? Furthermore, heterosexual single couples are allowed to adopt in many states. These people are not married and sometimes are not in a committed relationship, yet they have this right bestowed upon them. According to a Census Brief entitled, “Children with single parents-how they fare”, it was determined that children who live at home with both parents grow up with more educational and financial advantages than children raised by one parent. People are aware that the family institution is changing rapidly, and that must come with the acceptance of homosexuals as capable parents (U.S. DOC)

Here is the situation: A happily committed gay couple finally wants to cement a relationship with the addition of a new family member, yet the laws in their state may deny unmarried couples the right to adopt, or even the adoption agencies around them retain strict policies on placing children in same-sex households. “New Jersey was the first state to specify that sexual orientation and marital status cannot be used to discriminate against couples who are seeking to adopt. The state also allows second-parent adoption, a legal procedure by which a co-parent can adopt the biological or adopted child of his or her non-marital partner.” (Gay Adoption) As of 2002, 21 states as well the District of Columbia, are open to gay adoption. The Human Rights Campaign’s Deputy Director of FamilyNet, Lisa Bennett stated in reference to state attitudes toward gay adoption that, "Some have explicit, welcoming language." (Gay Adoption).

The major driving force in the opposition towards gay adoption is a widespread homophobia present in American society. Homosexuals, for the longest time, have been branded by society as deviant, immoral, sick etc. Significant legal hurdles can be faced more so by homosexual couples or individuals looking to adopt, even though same-sex couples raising adopted children are “older, more educated, and have more economic resources than other adoptive parents.” (Maxwell) Opponents claim gay adoption robs children of the chance to have a normal, healthy lifestyle. Is living in foster care until adulthood normal and healthy? Why rob children of the right to have a chance to live in a home with loving, caring, and responsible guardians, where a child will always know he/she has the stability most foster homes don’t provide. Kristen Hansen, a spokeswoman for the Christian Coalition was quoted as saying, “Every child has the right to both a mother and a father.”(Homosexual Parenting)Well, she is right, but unfortunately there are some kids in society that aren’t afforded that blessing. We can no more force divorced parents to stay together, than we can force unwed parents to marry in order to provide a “stable” home.

There is also the fear of recruiting. It is believed by some that children placed in the homes of gay couples are more likely to “develop abnormal sexual identities”(Homosexual Parenting) and become gay themselves, although there is research available that attests to homosexuality as a biological characteristic. The fact of the matter is the number of children in foster care has risen by 89% since 1982 (Johnson), and proponents of gay adoption consider it an injustice to these children to allow them to pine away in troubled foster care systems while perfectly well suited gay and lesbian couples are willing and available to raise them. Again, the stigma that exists in society towards gays and lesbians makes it more difficult than the average heterosexual couple looking to adopt.

The most compelling reason for the legalization of gay adoption in all states is the inadequacies of the failing foster care system of the United States. The cases of sexual and physical abuse towards children in foster care has been an ever present problem since the creation of the system. In Maryland, a study conducted by John Hopkins University in 1992 found that the rate of abuse in the foster care system was “four times higher than that found among the general population.” (Thomas) The failure exists nationwide. There is an apparent difficulty on the part of foster care agencies to provide the care children affected by abuse need. Instead, the solution is to replace them with the chance this may happen again.

There is also the need to take into account the very real effect foster care has on children. “Attachment refers to this relationship between 2 people and forms the basis for long-term relationships or bonds with other persons. Attachment is an active processit can be secure or insecure, maladapative or productive.” (Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption and Dependent Care) The key idea is that “attachment is an active process”. How can attachment be developed if a child is moved from home to home? Furthermore, “Optimal child development occurs when a spectrum of needs are consistently met over an extended period.”(Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption and Dependent Care) The foster care system has not been known, even to those who haven’t experienced it firsthand, to provide the full needs of a child. As opposed to letting the child’s development be stunted, why not place them into a home where they will be cared for, and where their needs will be met?

The answer is fear. Fear that these children will be preyed upon by homosexuals. After weeks, months, and sometimes years of home visits, drug tests, prospective donors etc. to be granted the opportunity to adopt a child is long sought victory for gay and lesbian parents. Is there really a case to be made that people go through this in order to impress an orientation on a child? When people embark on the long journey that is adoption, it is only to be granted the chance to open up a home to a child who needs it. To be given the chance to experience fatherhood or motherhood because they cannot, for whatever reason, do it alone.

The problems that occur in the public foster care system are vast, but not unchangeable. With the legalization of gay adoption, as stated above, there would be a drastic cut in the amount of children waiting to be placed. Gays and lesbians want the same things out of life as everyone else, and it is truly unfair to them as well as children, to rob them of the chance of having a family.

Its a step. A rather good step. We cannot allow these Bush administration officials to get away with the laws they have broken. Attny General Holder is now considering to appoint a special counsel to investigate the recently leaked memos. Techniques like those used on our captives cannot be allowed to continue nor go unpunished. When respect for life, no matter who's life it is, is discarded, it is a problem. Locking people in boxes, chaining them to the ceiling, sleep deprivation among other things. This is reprehensible. This is not the middle ages, and if a modern superpower like the US cannot extract intelligence in any other way, we dont deserve to be a superpower.

Point: It is against international law to not prosecute known offenders of international laws on torture.

Get it done.

It's pretty crazy that our government tortured prisoners to the extent that we now know. The picture to the left is from the Abu Ghraib incident from a while back but shows the extent of brutality and cruelty the US chose to use in order to extract information from our enemies. It is equally disappointing to learn that the Obama administration will not be pursuing any course of legal action against those involved in the torture against prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. However, if everyone remembers, the soldiers involved at the very bottom of the command chain at Abu Ghraib were prosecuted in martial courts and served time for their part in the tortuous events that went on there. Then why cant the upper levels of government be held to the same accountability? That word seems to be thrown around a lot of late. Accountability. However, I cannot find it anywhere. At least with this issue.

The economy has been the main topic in the country since the economic downfall began last September. Rightfully so, people are worried about their retirement, paying for college, getting loans, keeping businesses above water. One cannot deny though, there have been major gains in the past couple months. The DOW, which some say is not a good economic indicator of the financial health, has been on a steady trail of gains in the past couple weeks. There is definately a slowing of the bleeding. Turns out our economy is not suffering from a bad case of hemophilia after all.

Why oh why Lord!? Why didn't you just keep her mouth shut!?

Constant leakages have occured citing the highlights of the Bush presidency; the major points he plans to discuss during his farewell speech airing tonight at 8pm. However, I would first like to share an article on the conservative news site FOX with an interesting quote from Bush's final press conference this past Monday (1/12).

Per FoxNews.com-

"In terms of the decisions that I had made to protect the homeland, I wouldn't worry about popularity. What I would worry about is the Constitution of the United States and putting plans in place that makes it easier to find out what the enemy is thinking," he said Monday.

- The Pres

It's very easy to see through this man. I think he believes he doesn't make his intentions clear when he slyly puts certain verbage into a remark. Putting plans in place that make it "easier" George? That to me smells like wire tapping without a warrant, or the complete disregard of habeas corpus, or torturing people at will. He still thinks we're clueless. Maybe a little more than half the country was at one point, but the number of those still clueless people out there has dwindled over the past 7 years.

But anyway, our dear almost-former-president will make his final remarks tonight ( there will be a full analysis tomorrow), in a farewell address to the public. In a leaked section of his address, Bush says that the inauguration of Barack Obama will represent a "moment of hope and pride". I can agree with that, but for much different reasons. For one, This will be a moment of hope. Hope that this man we have now elected can fix the mistakes of your legacy you've left behind. It's a miracle we have all survived this time period. So yes, this will be a moment of hope indeed.
And two, this will definately be a moment of pride. For blacks, of course, but every American should find pride in the event that's about to become a reality. At least the rest of the world will like us more.

So the infamous Joe the Plumber has been sent to Israel to report on the growing tension between the Jewish state and Gaza. I never would've thought anyone would've paid to have this man sent anywhere to report on anything, but the conservative company pajamas media has done the unthinkable. On his first day of "reporting" Werzel-dumbass was quoted as saying the media should be banned from reporting on war because they don't know anything about it. Ok, so screw the bill of rights then buddy? Whatever happened to freedom of the press? Or have you not heard of it? You have to admit, he does have a knack for stretching 15 minutes of fame. I am absolutely tired of this man. First he pals around with McCain and Palin on the campaign trail, but only after the election he comes out saying he didn't think McCain had a clear understanding of the issues nor how to solve them. Yet he stayed. Using his new found notoriety to open up possible future careers. Drop the plumber act buddy. You don't even have a license! What happened to wanting to run for congress? What happened to the country music recording contract? Please please, spare your uneducated opinion on the matter of what reporters should or should not be able to report on. In case you haven't noticed, you are technically (and regretably) a reporter now.

Drop the act. You're a stupid little man. I sincerely hope you don't come back from Israel.

So Obama has decided to allow New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson to deliver the invocation of the inaugural week. This event is sure shaping up to be a colorful array of faces. Being that Robinson is the first openly gay ordained priest, and Rick Warren is an open bigot, both should make for interesting discussion. I have to ask myself whether or not this decision was made just to calm the outrage over Obama's choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation on Inauguration Day. I dont know about anyone else, but this does not calm that outrage over for me. I know he is all about coming together and reaching consensus and listening to everyone's opinions but some shouldnt be heard. Especially in social settings such as an inauguration. However, I guess i shouldnt be so hard. We all have opinions. No matter how hate filled yours or mine may be, they are still valid. Valid to be heard that is.

This person needs a job. This individual seeks an executive position. 
He will be available in January 2009, and is willing to relocate. 
(Please don't skip the last section!)

RESUME 

GEORGE W. BUSH 
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20520  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

Law Enforcement: 
I was arrested in Kennebunkport, Maine , in 1976 for driving under the influence of alcohol. I pled guilty, paid a fine, and had my driver's license suspended for 30 days. My Texas driving record has been 'lost' and is not available. 

Military: 
I joined the Texas Air National Guard and went AWOL. I refused to take a drug test or answer any questions about my drug use. By joining the Texas Air National Guard, I was able to avoid combat duty in Vietnam . 

College:
I graduated from Yale University with a low C average. I was a che erleader. 

PAST WORK EXPERIENCE: 

I ran for U.S. Congress and lost. 

I began my career in the oil business in Midland   Texas, in 1975. I bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas The company went bankrupt shortly after I sold all my stock. 

I bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a deal that took land using taxpayer money. 

With the help of my father and our friends in the oil industry (including Enron CEO Ken Lay), I was elected governor of Texas . 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS GOVERNOR OF TEXAS : 

I changed Texas pollution laws to favor power and oil companies, making Texas the most polluted state in the Union . During my tenure, Houston replaced Los Angeles as the most smog-ridden city in America ... 

I cut taxes and bankrupted the Texas treasury to the tune of billions in borrowed money. 

I set the record for the most execution S by any gov e rnor in American history. 

With the help of my brother, the governor of Florida , and my father's appointments to the Supreme Court, I became President of the United States, after losing by over 500,000 votes. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PRESIDENT: 

I am the first President in U.S. History to enter office with a criminal record. 

I invaded and occupied two countries at a continuing cost of over one billion dollars per week. 

I spent the U.S. Surplus. 

I shattered the record for the largest annual deficit in U.S. History. 

I set an economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12-month period. 

I set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period. 

I set the all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the U.S. Stock market.  

I'm proud that th e members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in U.S. H istory. My ' po orest millionaire,' Condoleezza Rice, has a Chevron oil tanker named after her. 

I set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips by a U.S. President. 

I am the all-time U.S. And world record -holder for receiving the most corporate campaign donations. 

My largest lifetime campaign contributor, and one of my best friends, Kenneth Lay, presided over the largest corporate bankruptcy fraud in U.S. History, Enron. 

My political party used Enron private jets and corporate attorneys to assure my success with the U.S. Supreme Court during my election decision. 

I have protected my friends at Enron and Halliburton against investigation or prosecution. More time and money was spent investigating the Monica Lewinsky affair than has been spent investigating one of the biggest corporate rip-offs in history. 

I presided over the highest gasoline prices in U.S. History. 

I changed the U.S. Policy to allow convict Ed criminals to be awarded government contracts. 

I appointed more convicted criminals to my administration than any President in U.S. History. 

I created the Ministry of Homeland Security, the largest bureaucracy in the history of the United States Government. 

I've broken more international treaties than any President in U.S. History. 

I am the first President in U.S. History to have the United Nations remove the U.S. From the Human Rights Commission. 

I withdrew the U.S. From the World Court of Law. 

I refused to allow inspector's access to U.S. 'prisoners of war' detainees and thereby have refused to abide by the Geneva Convention. 
I am the first President in history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 US election). 

I set the record for fewest numbers of press conferences of any President since the advent of television. 

I set the all-time record for most days on vacation in any one-year period. After taking off the entire month of August, I presided over the worst security failure in U.S. history. 

I garnered the most sympathy ever for the U.S. after the World Trade Center attacks and less than a year later made the U.S. the most hated country in the world, the largest failure of diplomacy in world history. 

I have set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously protest me in public venues (15 million people), shattering the record for protests against any person in the history of mankind. 

I am the first President in U.S. history to order an unprovoked, pre-emptive attack and the military occupation of a sovereign nation. I did so against the will of the United Nations, the majority of U.S. Citizens and the world community. 

I have cut health care benefits for war veterans and support a cut in duty benefits for active duty troops and their families in wartime. 

In my State of the Union Address, I lied about our reasons for attacking Iraq and then blamed the lies on our British friends. 

I am the first President in history to have a majority of Europeans (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and security. 

I am supporting development of a nuclear 'Tactical Bunker Buster' a WMD. 

I have so far failed to fulfill my pledge to bring Osama Bin Laden to justice. 

RECORDS AND REFERENCES: 

All records of my tenure as governor of Texas are now in my father's library, sealed and unavailable for public view. 

All records of SEC investigations into my insider trading an d m y bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view. 

All records or minutes from meetings that I, or my Vice-President, attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public review. I specified that my sealed documents will not be available for 50 years.

PLEASE SEND THIS TO EVERY VOTER YOU KNOW!

So I'm having some trouble understanding all the hooplah involved around Michelle Obama's comments on America. Sure, she said it was the first time in her adult life that she was proud of her country. What's the problem there? This country has brought most of its problems on itself. And when I say "country", I mean our government. Regular people like you and me have no role in the decisions we make. Michelle Obama falls into that category. Yes, republicans say that since she's on the campaign trail she's fair game to be attacked. I disagree. From my understanding, Cindy McCain has been on the campaign trail with her husband, republican candidate John McCain, and even given a few speeches to his supporters in the process. But no one talks about how she was a crackhead. I mean honestly, the woman stole medication from her own organization in order to feed her own personal addiction. But no one mentions that. I have no "beef" with Cindy McCain personally, but I believe if you're going to bag on Obama's wife for comments she's made, then it would only be natural to investigate "the other woman" involved in this. Her comments were blown way out of proportion to make her seem like she was un-patriotic or "ungrateful" for what America has given her, as one conservative put it. Yes, she did get a first class education at Princeton but that was because of her hard work and dedication. Anyone who's an American knows that nothing in this country is "given" to you. And for the other comments she made about how America is evil or something along those lines, lets take a minute to examine this country...

We went into a war under false pretenses, and invaded a country in the middle east based on false intelligence. We destroyed a countries infrastructure in order to gain monetarily. It wasn't to liberate the Iraqi people, or even to remove Saddam Hussein. It was to get oil. We spend something like 10 billion dollars a day in Iraq when public schools in Baltimore, and many other inner cities, don't have enough money to properly educate our future leaders. Its so much more than being proud of a country, but being proud of our leaders. Our leaders are the people that decide on our image, and so far, they aren't doing a very good job.

So in conclusion, I would just like to say that, before you point fingers at someone else, take a second to look at what you've done. I just love how Cindy talks about Michelle's comments. I quietly laugh inside while I ask myself, "Did she snort them, or swallow?" I still debate with myself on that.

Hello everyone. I'm Nolan David Sylvia. I currently appear before you because I'd like to ignite a cause. I've recently graduated high school, and I am enrolled at Howard Community College located in the beautiful city of Columbia, Maryland. But see, this blog wont be about me. At least not entirely. The cause I speak of is a real one. It involves the direction in which our country is moving in, and the decisions that will influence it. It is a subject in which most people around my age (I'm 17), do not quite fully understand, nor are very much interested in. My aim in this blog is to bring out those people who may feel like their voice doesn't count, or aren't very much moved by the subject of politics at all. I want to help my peers understand the world, from someone on their level, who can identify the issues that will affect them most.
You may be wondering how a person like me (Black, gay, a less than stellar student) could've stumbled into such an arena. Well, it all started about 2 or 3 years ago. I started falling asleep to MSNBC, partly because it bored me and helped me go to sleep, but also because the anchors voices were always so soothing :) But one night, I couldn't sleep. I actually decided to watch the news for a change. What the heck I figured, "Find out what's going on in the world Nolan!". So I did. It was a rerun of Countdown with Keith Olbermann that had originally aired a couple hours previously. I have to admit that the colors are what initially attracted me. And his hair is so gorgeous I decided to stay a while. By the end of the hour this man had changed my whole view of the world. Sure, I had watched the news before. I was an avid NBC Nightly News guy with Peter Jennings. But I had never allowed myself to really sit down and watch an actual NEWSPROGRAM. Olbermann made my first real experience with politics, and foreign affairs quite enjoyable. He made it funny, witty, and understandable all at the same time. I steadily began to watch more often, maybe a couple times a week, and by the end of my senior year, my tv was on MSNBC at 6am when i got up for school, and 9:30pm when i got home from work. The whole primary season of course was the starting point of my obsession with politics. The exciting possibilities of the first African American, and Female candidates to be elected as President of the United States, got me.....I have to say.......a little excited. I watched the dramas unfold through the first caucus in Iowa to Obama's Jeremiah Wright controversy, through to Hilary's long awaited concession speech. The process that our country is involved in has me overwhelmed with the need of knowledge to understand our situation in this world. I've come to a place in my life where I feel obligated to share my thoughts with others so we can grow together and finally arrive at a place of understanding. It's sad that, even though teens ages 13-17 cant vote, aren't thoroughly well versed on current events. Or how certain outcomes of such a vital election, could sway their lives in ways they can't imagine. I hope to change that, one person at a time. This job's not going to be easy but someone has to do it.